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The membrane of a tabla is typically made from animal skin, usually: 1. Goatskin (most common) 2. Cowskin 3. Buffaloskin The skin is stretched and tightened over the shell of the tabla and is responsible for producing the instrument's distinctive tone and pitch. The skin is usually treated and processed to: 1. Remove hair and flesh 2. Soak and stretch the skin 3. Apply a layer of paste or syrup (e.g., maida or flour) to enhance tone and durability 4. Dry and tighten the skin over the shell Some modern tablas may use synthetic materials or alternative animal-free options, but traditional tablas typically use animal skin membranes. The quality and characteristics of the skin can significantly impact the tabla's sound and playability. read less

Here are some of the best Indian classical albums of Tabla and Santoor: - *Call of the Valley* - Shivkumar Sharma, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Brij Bhushan Kabra ¹ This album is a spiritual journey that transports you to the mountains of Kashmir, where the fresh air and beautiful landscapes are said to nourish the soul. - *Yugal Bandi: Played by Shiv + Hari* ¹ This album is a collaboration between Santoor maestro Shiv Kumar Sharma and classical flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia, recorded in Sweden. - *Shivkumar Sharma & Brijbhushan Kabra – Santoor & Guitar – ECLP 2299* ² This 1964 album features Shivkumar Sharma on the Santoor, Brijbhushan Kabra on the guitar, and Madhav Indorkar on the Tabla. - *Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival of India* - Ravi Shankar ¹ This album is a collaboration between Ravi Shankar and his student, George Harrison, and features a 16-piece revue composed of Indian classical musicians. - *West meets East: Volume 2* ¹ This album is a collaboration between American violinist Yehudi Menuhin and Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, and features a masterful blend of Indian and Western classical music. Would you like to know more about any of these albums? read less

The origin of the tabla is not well-documented, and it is difficult to attribute its invention to a single person. The tabla is believed to have evolved from the ancient Indian drum, the mridangam, which was mentioned in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata (400 BCE - 400 CE). The modern tabla, with its characteristic small right-hand drum (dayan) and larger left-hand drum (bayan), emerged in the mid-18th century in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the courts of the Mughal Empire. While we can't identify a single inventor of the tabla, several musicians and instrument makers contributed to its development over time. Some notable figures who helped popularize and refine the tabla include: 1. Amir Khusrau (1253-1325 CE): A Sufi musician and poet who is credited with inventing the naqqara, a precursor to the tabla. 2. Tansen (1506-1589 CE): A renowned musician in the court of Akbar, who is said to have refined the tabla's design and playing style. 3. Various instrument makers and musicians in the courts of the Mughal Empire and other regional kingdoms, who contributed to the tabla's evolution over time. The tabla's development was a gradual process, shaped by the contributions of many individuals over several centuries. read less